This “Limited Edition” Blu-ray from Eureka Entertainment is available for purchase on January 28th.
In this part of the world, Hong Kong cinema is known for its high energy action pictures, but naturally their movie industry isn’t as easy to define in such simple terms. Distributors like Eureka Entertainment have been presenting a wide variety of pictures on Blu-ray, with many pushing boundaries and present highly original takes that even combine several genres at the same time.
Running on Karma is one of those pictures. Yes, it does have plenty of action and humor (at least, early on), but the story also deals with tragedy, Buddhist philosophy and other themes. In fact, this particular movie is remarkable in just how effortlessly it combines outrageous action, supernatural elements and melodrama. It was seamlessly co-directed by Johnnie To (The Heroic Trio, A Hero Never Dies, Election, Drug War) and Wai Ka-fai (Fulltime Killer, Mad Detective) and in its homeland, the film was a big success. In fact, it racked up a number of awards as well, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Screenplay at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Now, Eureka Entertainment is debuting the film on Blu-ray in North American with an impressive “Limited Edition” that includes a solid 2K picture restoration and plenty of bonuses.
The story follows Big (Andy Lau) a bodybuilder and stripper who was once a Buddhist monk. It’s quickly revealed that the man has a gift of seeing the future of those who comes into contact with, but that this knowledge often troubles him. It seems that many carry karma with them. This can sometimes lead to contentment, but more presents their tragic end. When a club Big is dancing for is raided by police, he takes to the streets and gets in the middle of a fracas involving a murderer with strange, supernatural abilities.
Inspector Lee Fung Yee (Cecilia Cheung) is on the scene to arrest Big, but quickly realizes that he isn’t a threat. And when she learns about his skills, she asks him to help her hunt down the killer. Big agrees, but is wary of befriending the woman because of her past life and the complications that will befall her. Before she was born, she was a murderous Japanese soldier known for beheading innocent victims during raids. While the inspector is a good person in her current form, he knows that karma is ultimately coming for her.
Andy Lau had already become a star in the music industry and features like Full Throttle and Infernal Affairs (which was the basis for Martin Scorsese’s The Departed), but here he does something completely different. His character is a bodybuilder and he wears a prosthetic muscle suit for much of the film. With the exception of a few scenes (including his introduction), it’s convincing. The performer’s body really looks oversized and bulky, not only when he is forced to fight but just moving around.
His relationship with the inspector is the heart of the film, as he tries to explain to her why he turned from a monk into a bodybuilder/dancer and the unfortunate downside of his gift. It becomes clear that his way of dealing with the ability is becoming somewhat superficial rather than philosophical. In the process, the two get into a number of interesting conversations about Buddhism and karma. This does result in some funny lines about the origin of a meal, but deep down he is really trying to explain that there isn’t much one can change in regards to their fate. Trying to behave simply to save oneself from a nasty end doesn’t really work, and thus he doesn’t see the point in being a monk.
There is a lot of action and it’s quite brutal and violent. The killer they’re hunting is incredibly nasty and his crimes add remarkable tension to the proceedings. Additionally, the chases and fights are very well handled and dynamic to watch, adding to the tension. But the emotional core of the film involves the two leads trying to grapple with the future. The film ultimately climaxes with a Buddhist realization that one must accept their end. But while living, they can do the best they can to plant seeds of positivity and kindness in order to stop further tragedy and bad Karma from following into the next life. In the end, it’s a nice thought and it leads to a more powerful final act than one would anticipate. The final interaction between the main characters, while low-key, is appropriately moving and resonates.
Despite some exaggerated elements, this is a very good film and one can see why it was a success. It moves at a brisk pace and features impressive action, but has a lot of heart, charismatic actors and well-drawn characters, as well as some deeply personal and dramatic elements that resonate.
As mentioned, the picture on this release is very strong. There are a lot of scenic backdrops, including neon-lit city sites and impressive natural locations.
Additionally, the extras are impressive. Two film historian commentaries are present on this Blu-ray. One is with Frank Djeng, which gives plenty of background information about the title. The second includes Djeng and F.J. DeSanto, who provided a commentary track for the movie on disc not long after its original release. Djeng admits that he didn’t really connect with the movie the first time around (some 20 years ago), but has now come to adore it.
The two remark about how well the picture holds up and, as older men, its meaning has become clear and striking. They also note how remarkable it is that the film works so well given all of its eccentricities. However, they note that the cast is so strong that it’s all works incredibly well and that the final product deserves even more recognition today, stating the themes are as relevant as ever in today’s world. Both tracks are interesting.
Another bonus is a critical analysis of the movie and the history of the production company. Speaker Gary Bettinson notes how To and Ka-fai came to work together (in TV), eventually turning to the film world. Milkyway Image was known for making movies with a dark and depressing edge. While their first titles were critically acclaimed, box office numbers were low. They began trying to produce similarly themed stories with a more commercial edge. Bettinson suggests these pictures would cast stars like Lau and attempt to present a spin on their traditional image (in this case, his physical appearance) in order to make the picture stand out. There are also tales about recutting the movie for mainland China and having to change elements of the story that would be seen as controversial (the Buddhist spiritualist subplot and the idea that a woman from Hong Kong could be the reincarnation of a Japanese person). It’s another informative piece.
There are also archival publicity featurettes on the title with cast and crew members talking about the various elements of the production. To reiterates that while there is humor in the movie, it’s primarily a drama. A trailer for the film is also included.
Running on Karma is a fascinating and surprisingly effective title that combines elements from many genres in an unexpectedly compelling way. This is primarily due to the cast, the pacing and the skilled storytelling and direction. It was great catching up with this impressive effort. The “Limited Edition” Blu-ray is also wonderful, with a clear image and great extras that help answer any questions viewers might have about the film. This disc comes highly recommended.